Used Car Warranty question

stezie

Hi all,

I bought a used 10 year old car in a local main dealership. The car was sold to be with a 3 month engine and gearbox warranty. i have it just 9 weeks now.

My mechanic has told me that the Dual Mass Flywheel is shot and needs replaced. At the same time this hasnt just happened, and he said it would of been bad for a while. I didnt notice anything until my mechanic point out the judder when engaging the clutch. left like this it will lead to gearbox damage.

The sales rep assured me that the car was sound and had no faults.

Would the Dual Mass Flywheel becovered under a typical engine and gearbox warranty given by a main dealership for a used car? Im going to be in for an expensive bill otherwise.

bazz26

DMFs are generally classed as wear and tear consumable parts so tend not to be covered by warranty. On a 10 year old car I'd doubt it even more so but there is only one way to find out, by asking the dealer.

stezie

Id rather have a bit of knowledge about what would be covered before i asked. You just know that if a dealer sensed an uneducated customer, then of coarse they will say what they want to save them paying out.

bazz26

With all due respect and not trying to be cruel but the time for your mechanic to find these things was nine weeks ago when you were buying it, he could have saved you a large bill. DMFs don't fail overnight

But in all honesty, any dealer warranty you get with a 10 year old car is going to be very limited. I'm surprised a main dealer even retailed a car of that age, most of them normally don't. They usually sell them on to smaller dealers as they cannot make enough money from them when you take warranty into account. I'd say you will have some job convincing the main dealer to replace the DMF and clutch of a 10 year old car under warranty.

Flywheels even on newer cars with the original car manufacturers warranty may not be covered unless the parts are removed and found to be defective rather than worn out. On a 10 year old car there is more chance of the flywheel being worn out and reached the end of its useful life than say on a 1 or 2 year car.